Systems and methods for controlling an electronic device

Abstract

The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a controller apparatus for controlling an electronic device by sensing and processing a user's interactions with an object and, particularly, for controlling and interacting with a media guidance application implemented on an interactive user equipment device. The controller apparatus may include a platform, a liquid container, and a stirring rod. The platform may include sensors of various kinds for detecting a user's interactions with any one of the components of the user interface system. The controller apparatus may also include sensors for sensing environmental conditions and use the sensed conditions to interact with the media guidance application or any other applications or electronic devices.

1. A remote control apparatus for a media device comprising:
 a platform for supporting a liquid container; 
 a stirring rod for stirring a liquid in the liquid container; and 
 a controller including:
 at least one sensor for sensing a condition of at least one of the stirring rod and the container; 
 a communications interface for sending control data to the media device for executing a media guidance function on the media device; and 
 a processor, in communication with the at least one sensor and the communications interface, configured for i) receiving sensor data from the at least one sensor, ii) processing the sensor data into the control data, and iii) sending the control data to the communications interface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a portion of the controller. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a coaster. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one of a reed relay, a magnetic sensor, a hall effect sensor, an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a weight sensor, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, and a location sensor. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control data is based on at least one of pressure data, acoustic data, position data, location data, movement data, weight data, volume data, and orientation data associated with at least one of the container and the stirring rod. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is based on at least one of pressure, position, location, movement, weight, volume, and orientation associated with at least one of the container and the stirring rod. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communications interface includes at least one of a wireless interface, an infrared interface, and a wired interface. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control data is used to control an operation of the media device. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a microphone for detecting a sound generated by a user. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sound results from the user contacting the stirring rod with another object. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a top surface in communication with the at least one sensor. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a cup and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense an amount of liquid in the cup. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the control data includes information based on the amount of liquid in the cup. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid container includes a portion of the controller. 
     
     
       15. A method for controlling a media device using a remote controller comprising:
 supporting a liquid container; 
 providing a stirring rod to enable stirring a liquid in the liquid container; 
 sensing a condition of at least one of the stirring rod and the container; 
 generating sensing data in response to sensing the condition; 
 processing the sensing data into control data for executing a media guidance function on the media device; 
 sending the control data to the media device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  comprising using a platform for supporting the container. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the platform includes a top surface in communication with at least one sensor. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the platform includes a coaster. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  comprising using at least one sensor for sensing, the at least one sensor including one of a reed relay, a magnetic sensor, a hall effect sensor, an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a weight sensor, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, and a location sensor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control data is based on at least one of pressure data, acoustic data, position data, location data, movement data, weight data, volume data, and orientation data associated with at least one of the container and the stirring rod. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor data is based on at least one of position, location, movement, weight, volume, and orientation associated with at least one of the container and the stirring rod. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sending of control data is via at least one of a wireless interface, an infrared interface, and a wired interface. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 15  comprising controlling an operation of the media device using the control data. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 15 , wherein sensing is via at least one sensor that includes a microphone for detecting a sound generated by a user. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the sound results from the user contacting the stirring rod with another object. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the container includes a cup and wherein the sensing includes sensing an amount of liquid in the cup. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the control data includes information based on the amount of liquid in the cup. 
     
     
       28. A user interface system for controlling a media device comprising:
 a sensor for sensing a user's interactions with a beverage container; and 
 a processor for converting the user's interactions into control information for executing a media guidance function on the media device. 
 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , wherein a portion of the system is included in the media device. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the system is located remotely from and in communication with the media device. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30 , wherein the system communicates wirelessly with the media device. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the user's interactions include at least one of drinking from the container, lifting the container, stirring the beverage clockwise, stirring the beverage counter-clockwise, tapping the container, tapping the container with a stirring rod, the temperature of the beverage, amount of beverage in the container, the weight of the container, and a change in a condition of the container. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein each of the one or more of the user's interactions is associated with a selected operation of the media device such that the media device operation is in response to each of the one or more of the user's interactions. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the sensor is included on a platform, the platform being configured to support the beverage container. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34 , wherein the platform includes a coaster. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the media device includes an interactive program guide. 
     
     
       37. A method for controlling a media device comprising:
 sensing a user's interactions with a beverage container; and 
 converting the user's interactions into control information for executing a media guidance function on the media device. 
 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , wherein a portion of the sensing and the converting is performed in the media device. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the sensing and the converting are performed remotely from the media device. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39  comprising sending the control information wirelessly to the media device. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the user's interactions include at least one of drinking from the container, lifting the container, stirring the beverage clockwise, stirring the beverage counter-clockwise, tapping the container, tapping the container with a stirring rod, the temperature of the beverage, amount of beverage in the container, the weight of the container, and a change in a condition of the container. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41 , wherein each of the one or more of the user's interactions is associated with a selected operation of the media device such that the media device operation is in response to each of the one or more of the user's interactions. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 37  comprising receiving the sensed user's interactions via a sensor included on a platform configured to support the beverage container. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the platform includes a coaster. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the media device includes an interactive program guide. 
     
     
       46. An interactive program guide system comprising:
 a media device configured for i) receiving programs and program guide information and ii) receiving user control information to execute a media guidance function on the media device; 
 a display for displaying the program guide information; and 
 a first controller including:
 at least one sensor for sensing a user's interactions with a tool; and 
 a processor for generating the user control information in response to the user's interactions; and 
 a communications interface for sending the user control information to the media device. 
 
 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 46  comprising a second remote controller for receiving user inputs via a user interface and sending the user control information to the media device. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 46 , wherein the first remote controller includes a platform for supporting the liquid container and a stirring rod for stirring a liquid in the beverage container. 
     
     
       49. A method for interacting with an interactive program guide comprising:
 receiving programs and program guide information at a media device; 
 receiving user control information to execute a media guidance function on the media device; 
 displaying the program guide information; and 
 controlling the interactive program guide by:
 sensing via at least one sensor a user's interactions with a tool; 
 generating the user control information in response to the user's interactions; and 
 sending the user control information to the media device. 
 
 
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 49  comprising receiving user inputs from a second remote controller via a user interface and sending the user control information to the media device. 
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first remote controller includes a platform for supporting the liquid container and a stirring rod for stirring a liquid in the beverage container.